Drive transmission means

ABSTRACT

A mechanism for transmitting power across a pivotal connection between two conveyor sections, including a guide member connected to one of the sections and having a circular outer surface formed about the axis of the pivotal connection, a continuous length of roller chain encircling the guide member and having inner and outer sides relative thereto, the rollers of said chain being in rolling engagement with the surface of the guide member throughout substantially the entire length of the chain, a first sprocket drivingly connected to one of the conveyor sections and in driving engagement with the outer side of the chain, and a second sprocket drivingly connected to the other conveyor section and also in driving engagement with the outer side of the chain.

United States Patent [191 Bartusek et al.

[ DRIVE TRANSMISSION MEANS [75] Inventors: Robert Joseph Bartusek, Des

Moines, Iowa; Elmer Richard Eckert, Horicon, Wis.

[73] Assignee: Deere & Company, Moline, [IL

[22] Filed: Aug. 13, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 171,565

[ 1 July 17, 1973 Primary ExaminerHarvey C. Hornsby AssistantExaminer-Douglas D. Watts Attorney- H. Vincent Harsha, William A. Murrayet al.

[57] ABSTRACT A mechanism for transmitting power across a pivotalconnection between two conveyor sections, including a guide memberconnected to one of the sections and having a circular outer surfaceformed about the axis of the pivotal connection, a continuous length ofroller chain encircling the guide member and having inner and outersides relative thereto, the rollers of said chain being in rollingengagement with the surface of the guide member throughout substantiallythe entire length of the chain, a first sprocket drivingly connected toone of the conveyor sections and in driving engagement with the outerside of the chain, and a second sprocket drivingly connected to theother conveyor section and also in driving engagement with the outerside of the chain.

17 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures Patented July 1 7, 1973 3,746,143

. 5a 54 56 so FIG. 62

1 N VEN'TORS R.J. BARTUSEK E.R. ECKERT Job as ATTORNE muvs TRANSMISSIONMEANS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relatesgenerally to a chaintype power-transmitting apparatus, and more particularly to apparatus for transmitting power across a pivotal connectionbetween two power-driven elements. The invention has particular utilityfor transmitting power between two pivotally-connected, communicating,material-conveyor sections.

Material conveyors comprising a pair of communicating, relativelypivotal auger conveyor sections are well-known in the art and widelyused for conveying grain and various comminuted materials. A commonarrangement of such conveyors is one wherein the first section extendsvertically from the discharge point of a tank, bin, or other materialcontainer, and the second section communicates with and'is pivotallyconnected to the upper end of the first section. In typical,commercially available apparatus of this type, the first section ispivotal relative to the material container about its vertical axis andthe second section is pivotal relative to the first section about anaxis lateral to the axis of the first section, such that the dischargepoint of the conveyor can be adjusted to various positions.

The mechanism employed in such apparatus for driving the two augersections has been a problem in the past. One common, though relativelyexpensive solu' tion to this problerri, has been to provide a separatehydraulic motor unit to drive each section individually. It iseconomically preferable, however, to provide only a single drive unitfor the first auger section, and to transmit the drive from the firstsection to the second section across the pivotal connectiontherebetween. Various means have been developed for transmitting poweracross the pivotal connection, representative of which is the mechanismdisclosed in US. Pat. No. 3,198,314, issued 3 Aug. 1965 to Duram. TheDuram mechanism comprises, generally, a ring encircling and rotatablymounted on a tubular housing interconnecting a pair of auger conveyorsections, the ring having two sets of sprocket teeth; a first sprocketsupported on and driven by the first auger section, the sprocket in turndriving the ring by means of a drive chain interconnecting the sprocketwith one of the sets of teeth thereon; and a second sprocket supportedon and drivingly connected to the second auger section, the secondsprocket being driven by the ring through a second drive chaininterconnecting the sprocket with the other set of teeth.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is the primary object of the presentinvention to provide a mechanism for transmitting power between tworelatively pivotal elements, the mechanism having a simpler and moreeconomical constructionthan that of similar devices heretofore known.More particularly, it is an object to provide such a mechanism whichutilizes only a single, continuous length of chain as the intermediatepower-transmitting element. It is a further object to provide such amechanism in which the chain is of the roller type, the chain encirclinga circular support on one of the auger sections and the rollers thereofserving as bearing means between the chain and support.

The invention comprises, generally, a pair of conveyor sectionsconnected for relative pivotal movement about an axis, the axis passingthrough a tubular housing interconnecting the two sections. A circularguide member is mounted on and encircles the housing. A continuouslength of roller chain encircles the guide member, the rollers of thechain engaging the surface of the guide member throughout substantiallythe entire length of the chain and acting as bearing means between thechain and guide. A first sprocket, supported on and driven by one of theconveyor sections, is in driving engagement with the outer side of thechain and is operable to drive the chain around the stationary guidemember in response to operation of the conveyor section. A secondsprocket is supported on and drivingly connected to the other conveyorsection, the second sprocket also being drivingly engaged with the outerside of the chain and thus operable to drive the second conveyor sectionin response to movement of the chain around the guide.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The preferred embodiment of thepresent invention will be described in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an elevation view of a pair of relatively pivotal conveyorsections drivingly interconnected by apparatus constructed in accordancewith the principles of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line 22 of FIG. 1; and,

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line 33 of FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The illustrated embodiment ofthe invention includes a first auger conveyor section indicatedgenerally by the numeral 10 and including a tubular housing l2 enclosedat one end by a circular cap 14, a shaft 16 disposed concentricallywithin the housing 12 and rotatably supported at its upper end in thecap 14, and spiral flighting l8 fixed along its inner edge to'the shaft16.

Pivotally connected to the conveyor section 10 is a second, similarauger conveyor section indicated generally by the numeral 20 andincluding a tubular housing 22 enclosed by a cap 24, a shaft 26 disposedconcentrically in the housing 22 and rotatably supported at one end inthe cap 24, and spiral flighting 28 fixed along its inner edge to theshaft 26.

The sections 10 and 20 are interconnected for relative pivotal movementabout an axis normal to and intersecting the axes of the sections bymeans of a lateral, tubular housing 30 centered on the pivotal axis andcomprising a first portion 32 fixed to and communicating with thehousing 12, and a second portion 34 fixed to and communicating with thehousing 22. The open ends of the portions 32 and 34 are rotatably joinedin communicating relation by means of the structure illustrated indetail in FIG. 3. As shown therein, the open outer end of the portion 34is provided with a flange 36, and the open outer end of the portion 32is provided with a flange 38 spaced inwardly of its outer edge. Aplurality of nut-and-bolt assemblies 40 pass through aligned aperturesin the flange 38, a circular guide member or spacer 42, and a circularplate 44 extending inwardly of the outer edge of the flange 36. Theflange 36 is thus constrained to rotate within the annular groove formedby the guide 42 and plate 44, and the auger section 20 is thus connectedto the section 10 for relative pivotal movement about the axis of thehousing 30.

Encircling the circular guide member 42 is a continuous length ofconventional rolIer chain 46 comprising a plurality of rollers 48carried on pins 50, the latter being connected by links 52. The innerside of the chain is in close proximity to the guide 42, the rollers 48being in rolling engagement with the outer surface of the guidethroughout substantially the entire length of the chain 46. The rollers48 thus serve as bearing means between the chain and guide. Asillustrated in FIG. 3, the inner edges of the links 52 extend. inwardlyof the outer surface of the guide 42 and thus act to retain the chain inposition on the guide.

In driving engagement with the outer side of the roller chain 46 is asprocket 54 fixed to the outer end of a shaft 56 rotatably supported bya bearing 58 fixed to the cap 14. Mounted on the inner end of the shaft56 is a bevel gear 60 in mesh with a similar bevel gear 62 on the upperend of the auger shaft 16. In a similar manner, a sprocket 64, fixed tothe end of a shaft 66, is in driving engagement with the outer side ofthe chain 46 at a point spaced from the sprocket 54. The shaft 66 issupported in a bearing member 68 fixed to the cap 24 and has a bevelgear 70 on its inner end in mesh with a bevel gear 72 on the end of theauger shaft 26.

In a typical application of the disclosed device, the auger shaft 16 isdriven at its lower end, and the lower portion of the housing 12includes an inlet opening communicating with the discharge opening of amaterial receptacle. The auger flighting l8is thus operable to advancematerial upwardly 18 is the housing 12. Although not shown in thedrawings, the upper end of the flighting 18 preferably includes aradially extending paddle which is operable to discharge the materialreaching the upper end of the housing laterally through the tubularconnecting portion 30- and into the end of the auger section 20. There,the material is picked up by the flighting 28 and advanced toward adischarge opening on the outerend of the housing 22.

Power for driving the auger shaft26 in the section 20 is transmittedfrom the bevel gear 62 on the auger shaft 16 to the gear 60 on the shaft56. The sprocket 54 on the shaft 56 is thus operable to move the chain46 around the surface of the guide 42, and the chain, in turn, isoperable to drive the sprocket 64. The sprocket 64 drives the bevel gear70 on the shaft 66 which, in turn, drives the bevel gear 72 on the augershaft 26 to complete the drive train. As illustrated in phantom in FIG.2, the auger section 20 may be pivoted about the axis passing throughthe tubular connecting portion 30 without interrupting the drive. 1

We claim:

I. Conveyor apparatus comprising: a pair of commu nicating conveyorsections; means connecting said conveyor sections for relative pivotalmovement about an axis; circular support means rigidly fixed to one ofsaid conveyors sections and centered on said axis; a continuous lengthof roller chain encircling said circular support means, the rollers ofsaid chain being in rolling engagement'with said support means; a drivesprocket in driving engagement with said chain, said drive sprocketbeing rotatably supported on and drivingly connected to one of saidconveyor sections; and a driven sprocket in driving engagement with saidchain, said driven sprocket ,being rotatably supported on and drivinglyconnected to the other of said conveyor sections, the drive sprocketbeing operative to drive the chain around the support means and thedriven sprocket being driven by the chain as the chain is driven aroundthe support means.

2. The invention defined in claim 1 wherein said continuous length ofroller chain has inner and outer sides relative to said circular supportmeans, said inner side of said chain is in close proximity to saidcircular support means substantially throughout the entire length ofsaid chain, and both of said sprockets are in driving engagement withthe outer side of said chain.

3. The invention defined in claim 1 including tubular housing meansextending between and communicating with each of said conveyor sections,said circular support means encircling said housing means.

4. The invention defined in claim 3 wherein said tubular housing meanscomprises a first tubular portion fixed to and communicating with saidfirst conveyor section, a second tubular portion fixed to andcommunicating with said second conveyor section, and meansinterconnecting said first and second tubular portions for relativemovement about said axis.

5. In combination with a pair of elements having drivable means, saidelements being connected for relative pivotal movement about an axis,means for drivingly connecting said drivable means across said pivotalconnection comprising: support means rigidly fixed to one of saidelements and having an arcuate surface formed about said axis; acontinuous length of roller chain encircling said support means, therollers of said chain being in rolling engagement with the arcuatesurface of said support means; a drive sprocket in driving engagementwith said chain, said drive sprocket being rotatably supported on one ofsaid elements and drivingly connected to the drivable means thereof; anda driven sprocket in driving engagement with said chain, said drivensprocket being rotatably supported on the other of said elements anddrivingly connected to the drivable means thereof, the drive sprocketbeing operative to drive the chain around the support means and thedriven sprocket being driven by the chain as the chain is driven aroundthe support means. I 6. The invention defined in claim 5 wherein saidcontinuous length of roller chain has inner and outer sides relative tothe arcuate surface of said support means, and wherein at least one ofsaid sprockets is in driving engagement with the outer side of saidchain.

7. The invention defined in claim 6 wherein both of said sprockets arein driving engagement with the outer side of said chain.

8. Conveyor apparatus comprising: a first auger con veyor sectionincluding a tubular housing having an auger section rotatably supportedtherein; a second auger conveyor section including a tubular housingcommunicating with the housing of said first auger conveyor section andhaving an anger section rotatably supported therein, said second augerconveyor section being connected to said first auger conveyor sectionfor relative pivotal movement about an axis; guide means rigidly fixedto one of said auger conveyor sections and having a circular outersurface formed about said axis; a continuous length of roller chainencircling said guide means and having inner and outer sides relativethereto, the rollers of said chain being in rolling engagement with thecircular outersurface of said guide means and the inner side of saidchain being in close proximity to the surface of said guide meansthroughout substantially its entire length; a drive sprocket in drivingengagement with the outer side of said chain, said drive sprocket beingsupported on said first auger conveyor section and drivingly connectedto the auger section thereof; and a driven sprocket in drivingengagement with the outer side of said chain, said driven sprocket beingsupported on said second auger conveyor section and drivingly connectedto the auger section thereof, the dirve sprocket being operative todrive the chain around the guide means and the driven sprocket being.driven by the chain as the chain is driven around the support means.

9. The invention defined in claim 8 including tubular housing meansextending between and communicating with the tubular housings of eachauger conveyor sec tion, said guide means encircling said tubularhousing means.

10. The invention defined in claim 9 wherein said tubular housing meanscomprises a first tubular portion fixed to and communicating with thetubular housing of said first auger conveyor section a second tubularportion fixed to and communicating with the tubular housing of saidsecond auger conveyor section, said second tubular portion alsocommunicating with said first tubular portion, and means interconnectingsaid first and second tubular portions for relative pivotal movementabout said axis.

11. The invention defined in claim 10 wherein said guide means isrigidly fixed to one of said tubular portions of said tubular housingmeans.

12. Conveyor apparatus comprising: a pair of communicating conveyorhousings connected for relative pivotal movement about an axis formingan angle with each of the housings; drivable conveyor means in each ofthe housings; guide means fixed to one of the housings and having anarcuate surface formed about said axis; a drive sprocket and a drivensprocket both disposed in the same plane as the guide means, one of thesprockets being supported on each conveyor housing and drivinglyconnected to the conveyor means therein; a continuous length of rollerchain encircling said arcuate guide means and having inner and outersides relative thereto, the rollers of said chain being in rollingengagement on the inner side of said chain with said guide means, saidsprockets being in driving engagement with said chain, the drivesprocket being operative to drive the chain around the guide means andthe driven sprocket being driven by the chain as the chain is drivenaround the guide means, at least one of said sprockets being in drivingengagement with the outer side of said chain.

13. The invention defined in claim 16 wherein at least one of saidsprockets is drivingly engaged with the outer side of said chain at apoint thereon at which the inner side of said chain is engaged with saidarcuate guide means.

14. Conveyor apparatus comprising: a first conveyor housing having atubular discharge portion formed about an axis; a first drivableconveyor element supported within said first conveyor housing; a secondconveyor housing having a tubular inlet portion formed about an axis; asecond drivable conveyor elemens supported within said second conveyorhousing; means connecting said first and second conveyor housings withthe tubular discharge and inlet portions thereof in axially aligned,end-to-end communicating relation and for relative pivotal movementofsaid housing about an axis coincident with the axes of the tubularportions; a guide member fixed to one of the tubular portions, saidguide member lying in a plane perpendicular to the pivotal axis of thefirst and second conveyor housings and having an arcuate surface formedabout said axis; a drive sprocket and a driven sprocket both disposed inthe same plane as the guide member, one of the sprockets being supportedon each conveyor housing and drivingly connected to the conveyor elementsupported therein; a continuous length ofroller chain encircling thearcuate surface of said guide member and having inner and outer sidesrelative thereto, the rollers of said chain being in rollingengagementon the inner side of the chain with said arcuate surface andsaid sprockets being in driving engagement with the chain, the drivesprocket being operative to drive the chain around the guide member andthe driven sprocket being driven by the chain as the chain is drivenaround the guide member, at least one of the sprockets being in drivingengagement with the outer side of the chain.

15. The invention defined in claim 14 wherein said guide member has anannular configuration and encircles one of the tubular portions'saidguide member having a circular outer surface formed about the pivotalaxis of the first and second conveyor housings.

16. The invention defined in claim 15 wherein the rollers of the chainare in rolling engagement with the circular outer surface of the guidemember throughout the entire length of the chain.

17. The invention defined in claim 16 wherein both of the sprockets arein driving engagement with the outer side of the chain.

UNTTED STATES PATENT OFFICE i 3 CERTIFICATE OF QORRECTION Patent No.3;7" "3 Dated 7 y 973 Robert Joseph Bartusek and Elmer Richard Eckert Itis certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and thatsaid Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 5, line 10, change "dirve" to drive 5 line 13, change "support"to guide Column 6, line 2, change "16" to l2 line 12, change "elemens"to element --3 line 17, change "housing" to housings line 27, change"ofroller" to of roller Signed and sealed this 27th day of November1973.

(SEAL) Attest:

RENE D. TEGTMEYER RD M.PLETCHER JR. EDWA Acting Commissioner of PatentsAttesting Officer FORM po'wso 3. USCOMM-DC 60376-F'69 r: us. covsgmmerqnur rm drn'c flees 0-366-334.

1. Conveyor apparatus comprising: a pair of communicating conveyorsections; means connecting said conveyor sections for relative pivotalmovement about an axis; circular support means rigidly fixed to one ofsaid conveyors sections and centered on said axis; a continuous lengthof roller chain encircling said circular support means, the rollers ofsaid chain being in rolling engagement with said support means; a drivesprocket in driving engagement with said chain, said drive sprocketbeing rotatably supported on and drivingly connected to one of saidconveyor sections; and a driven sprocket in driving engagement with saidchain, said driven sprocket being rotatably supported on and drivinglyconnected to the other of said conveyor sections, the drive sprocketbeing operative to drive the chain around the support means and thedriven sprocket being driven by the chain as the chain is driven aroundthe support means.
 2. The invention defined in claim 1 wherein saidcontinuous length of roller chain has inner and outer sides relative tosaid circular support means, said inner side of said chain is in closeproximity to said circular support means substantially throughout theentire length of said chain, and both of said sprockets are in drivingengagement with the outer side of said chain.
 3. The invention definedin claim 1 including tubular housing means extending between andcommunicating with each of said conveyor sections, said circular supportmeans encircling said housing means.
 4. The invention defined in claim 3wherein said tubular housing means comprises a first tubular portionfixed to and communicating with said first conveyor section, a secondtubular portion fixed to and communicating with said second conveyorsection, and means interconnecting said first and second tubularportions for relative movement about said axis.
 5. In combination with apair of elements having drivable means, said elements being connectedfor relative pivotal movement about an axis, means for drivinglyconnecting said drivable means across said pivotal connectioncomprising: support means rigidly fixed to one of said elements andhaving an arcuate surface formed about said axis; a continuous length ofroller chain encircling said support means, the rollers of said chainbeing in rolling engagement with the arcuate surface of said supportmeans; a drive sprocket in driving engagement with said chain, saiddrive sprocket being rotatably supported on one of said elements anddrivingly connected to the drivable means thereof; and a driven sprocketin driving engagement with said chain, said driven sprocket beingrotatably supported on the other of said elements and drivinglyconnected to the drivable means thereof, the drive sprocket beingoperative to drive the chain around the support means and the drivensprocket being driven by the chain as the chain is driven around thesupport means.
 6. The invention defined in claim 5 wherein saidcontinuous length of roller chain has inner and outer sides relative tothe arcuate surface of said support means, and wherein at least one ofsaid sprockets is in driving engagement with the outer side of saidchain.
 7. The invention defined in claim 6 wherein both of saidsprockets are in driving engagement with the outer side of said chain.8. Conveyor apparatus comprising: a first auger conveyor sectionincluding a tubular housing having an auger section rotatably supportedtherein; a second auger conveyor section including a tubular housingcommunicating with the housing of said first auger conveyor section andhaving an auger section rotatably supported therein, said second augerconveyor section being connected to said first auger conveyor sectionfor relative pivotal movement about an axis; guide means rigidly fixedto one of said auger conveyor sections and having a circular outersurface formed about said axis; a continuous length of roller chainencircling said guide means and having inner and outer sides relativethereto, the rollers of said chain being in rolling engagement with thecircular outer surface of said guide means and the inner side of saidchain being in close proximity to the surface of said guide meansthroughout substantially its entire length; a drive sprocket in drivingengagement with the outer side of said chain, said drive sprocket beingsupported on said first auger conveyor section and drivingly connectedto the auger section thereof; and a driven sprocket in drivingengagement with the outer side of said chain, said driven sprocket beingsupported on said second auger conveyor section and drivingly connectedto the auger section thereof, the dirve sprocket being operative todrive the chain around the guide means and the driven sprocket beingdriven by the chain as the chain is driven around the support means. 9.The invention defined in claim 8 including tubular housing meansextending between and communicating with the tubular housings of eachauger conveyor section, said guide means encircling said tubular housingmeans.
 10. The invention defined in claim 9 wherein said tubular housingmeans comprises a first tubular portion fixed to and communicating withthe tubular housing of said first auger conveyor section a secondtubular portion fixed to and communicating with the tubular housing ofsaid second auger conveyor section, said second tubuLar portion alsocommunicating with said first tubular portion, and means interconnectingsaid first and second tubular portions for relative pivotal movementabout said axis.
 11. The invention defined in claim 10 wherein saidguide means is rigidly fixed to one of said tubular portions of saidtubular housing means.
 12. Conveyor apparatus comprising: a pair ofcommunicating conveyor housings connected for relative pivotal movementabout an axis forming an angle with each of the housings; drivableconveyor means in each of the housings; guide means fixed to one of thehousings and having an arcuate surface formed about said axis; a drivesprocket and a driven sprocket both disposed in the same plane as theguide means, one of the sprockets being supported on each conveyorhousing and drivingly connected to the conveyor means therein; acontinuous length of roller chain encircling said arcuate guide meansand having inner and outer sides relative thereto, the rollers of saidchain being in rolling engagement on the inner side of said chain withsaid guide means, said sprockets being in driving engagement with saidchain, the drive sprocket being operative to drive the chain around theguide means and the driven sprocket being driven by the chain as thechain is driven around the guide means, at least one of said sprocketsbeing in driving engagement with the outer side of said chain.
 13. Theinvention defined in claim 16 wherein at least one of said sprockets isdrivingly engaged with the outer side of said chain at a point thereonat which the inner side of said chain is engaged with said arcuate guidemeans.
 14. Conveyor apparatus comprising: a first conveyor housinghaving a tubular discharge portion formed about an axis; a firstdrivable conveyor element supported within said first conveyor housing;a second conveyor housing having a tubular inlet portion formed about anaxis; a second drivable conveyor elemens supported within said secondconveyor housing; means connecting said first and second conveyorhousings with the tubular discharge and inlet portions thereof inaxially aligned, end-to-end communicating relation and for relativepivotal movement of said housing about an axis coincident with the axesof the tubular portions; a guide member fixed to one of the tubularportions, said guide member lying in a plane perpendicular to thepivotal axis of the first and second conveyor housings and having anarcuate surface formed about said axis; a drive sprocket and a drivensprocket both disposed in the same plane as the guide member, one of thesprockets being supported on each conveyor housing and drivinglyconnected to the conveyor element supported therein; a continuous lengthofroller chain encircling the arcuate surface of said guide member andhaving inner and outer sides relative thereto, the rollers of said chainbeing in rolling engagement on the inner side of the chain with saidarcuate surface and said sprockets being in driving engagement with thechain, the drive sprocket being operative to drive the chain around theguide member and the driven sprocket being driven by the chain as thechain is driven around the guide member, at least one of the sprocketsbeing in driving engagement with the outer side of the chain.
 15. Theinvention defined in claim 14 wherein said guide member has an annularconfiguration and encircles one of the tubular portions said guidemember having a circular outer surface formed about the pivotal axis ofthe first and second conveyor housings.
 16. The invention defined inclaim 15 wherein the rollers of the chain are in rolling engagement withthe circular outer surface of the guide member throughout the entirelength of the chain.
 17. The invention defined in claim 16 wherein bothof the sprockets are in driving engagement with the outer side of thechain.